Starting as dockworkers, they swept through Chongqing.

Chapter 108 Xilun's Respectable Suit, Translating the Mysterious Stone Carvings

"A rigid class system, a reverence for technology, and a deep respect for the extraordinary." Yuri turned to look at Xiren's cold, hard face. "You used to be a dockworker, so you should know the true nature of that class better than I do."

The vast majority of people in that class are like the cheapest cogs in a workshop, and they can't accumulate much gold in their entire lives.

They are forced to work at the age of twelve or thirteen, selling their physical labor in dark mines or rusty ship cabins; by the time they reach their thirties or forties, they die tragically from various accidents, malignant lung diseases, or being dragged underwater by alien species.

They toiled their whole lives, and in the end, the few pennies they had left that weren't spent were perhaps just enough to buy a thin pine coffin, or even a decent tombstone.

Xiren listened silently; he not only knew these cruel truths, but had also experienced them firsthand.

Yuri interpreted his silence as a profound agreement.

Yuri laughed at the end, but there was little warmth in his laughter: "What I mean is, Siren, now that you've fought so hard to climb out of that quagmire and become a Baptist, then whatever you do, whatever you do, don't fall back down."

He stopped and stared intently at Xilun: "A person only has one life. If one possesses extraordinary power but still cannot live with dignity, that can be called an unforgivable sin."

Without continuing the heavy topic, Yuri turned and pushed open the wooden door of an inconspicuous shop on the street corner.

The brass bell on the door rang out with a clear, crisp sound.

The shop had no sign, was dimly lit, and was filled with the unique dry smell of high-end fabrics and a faint camphor scent.

Behind the counter, an elderly man with white hair and a monocle was cutting something with a huge pair of scissors. Hearing the noise, the old man said without looking up, "You haven't visited this shabby place for two hundred and sixty-three days."

Yuri folded his umbrella and laughed, "If it weren't for my friend, I really wouldn't bother stepping into your house full of loose threads."

He stepped aside to let Xilen move forward and said to the old man, "My friend is currently lacking a decent set of clothes. He may need to attend some occasions in the future, so please design an outfit for him that can reflect his status."

The old man then stopped scissors, adjusted his monocle, and gave Xilen a scrutinizing look from head to toe with an extremely critical, professional gaze:

His gaze lingered for a moment on Xilun's upright shoulders and well-proportioned muscles, and he nodded slightly, saying, "Perfect bone structure, strong muscles but not bulky. Looks about the same age as your son."

Yuri shook his head helplessly: "Stop joking, old buddy. Let's get to work."

"Come in, young man." The old man picked up the tape measure hanging around his neck and waved to Xilun.

Xilun followed the old man into the inner room, which was filled with fabric. For the next half hour, the old man meticulously measured every part of Xilun's body with a tape measure, as if he were sculpting a work of art.

Xilun could feel a strange sense of stability when the old man's withered fingers occasionally touched his skin, a feeling that no ordinary tailor could possess.

After taking the measurements, Xilun came out and sat quietly on the velvet sofa next to Yuri.

Yuri pulled a cigarette from the silver cigarette case, lit it, and took a deep drag. The swirling smoke rose between the two of them.

He looked at Xilun and casually asked, as if making a casual conversation, "Besides work, what do you usually do?"

Xilun thought about his monotonous, almost mechanical daily routine and answered truthfully: "Studying mystical knowledge, practicing martial arts to hone my qi and blood, eating to replenish my strength, and occasionally reading the newspaper to understand the situation."

After listening, Yuri couldn't help but shake his head and sigh, "It's too monotonous. Siren, your current strength matches your diligence, but this life is like that of an ascetic."

You have almost no social life, which is a huge disadvantage in the non-social world. Many valuable resources and intelligence circulate through social gatherings involving drinking and conversation.

He flicked off his cigarette ash and made a decision: "In two months, once you've settled things with the new breathing method, I'll take you to some private social gatherings."

The participants are all extraordinary individuals like yourself, which may help you broaden your horizons and gain a new understanding of the real world hidden beneath the roar of steam.

Siren's eyes flickered slightly; he knew this was both acceptance and a test. He nodded. "Thank you for the introduction."

After waiting a while, the old man lifted the curtain from the inner room and came out. He wasn't carrying any clothes in his hands, but smiled and said, "Wait five more minutes, and the final ironing will be done soon."

The old man walked to the opposite side of the sofa and sat down, crossed his hands on his knees, looked at Xilen with an appreciative gaze, and said, "Your figure is truly the best I've seen in years."

Your muscular physique is perfect for a casual suit; you should definitely avoid those bulky tuxedos. Your clothes must be crisp and clean to bring out your understated yet powerful presence.

Xilun smiled politely, picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip, and said nothing more. He was used to hiding his sharpness.

The old man glanced at the clock on the wall, stood up, and said, "It's time."

He turned and went back into the house. A moment later, he took out a set of clothes that were wrapped tightly in a dust cover.

"Young man, put these on and let me see." The old man handed the clothes to Xilun, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Perhaps you can give this old man a pleasant surprise."

Xilun took the clothes and went into the narrow fitting room.

He took off his worn-out trench coat and rough linen shirt, his gaze falling on the outfit hanging on the hanger.

The clothes are casual style suits made of extremely high-quality navy blue wool blend fabric, which is soft to the touch and has excellent wrinkle resistance.

The trousers were striped fine-woven long trousers, with a dark gray base adorned with subtle, almost imperceptible patterns; the shoes were a pair of polished, pure black Oxford shoes, with a perfectly curved toe.

In addition, there was a thick silk tie and an exquisitely polished brass button.

Xilun put them on one by one, and when he fastened the last button and looked up at the full-length mirror in the fitting room, he couldn't help but be stunned for a moment.

The man in the mirror had an upright posture, and the clothes were tailored to fit his muscular physique perfectly.

The curves from the shoulders to the waist are neat and orderly.

The combination of navy blue and dark gray made him look neat and uniform, shedding the crudeness and hostility he had picked up while working at the docks, and adding a touch of refined scholarly air to his appearance.

Xilun pursed his lips, and his angular face, accentuated by the crisp collar of his clothes, exuded a unique air of melancholy, like that of a noble young man.

He tried to tug at the corners of his mouth, revealing a very faint smile. The man in the mirror smiled like a well-mannered young master from an ancient family, but who would have thought that beneath this respectable exterior lay an explosive power capable of tearing steel apart in an instant?

He pushed open the fitting room door and came out.

Yuri was sitting on the sofa smoking when he saw Xiren come out, and a hint of undisguised amazement flashed in his eyes.

He clapped his hands vigorously and laughed loudly, "What an incredible outfit! Old man, your craftsmanship is as ruthless as ever. It's a complete transformation!"

Xiren walked up to Yuri, bowed slightly, and said, "Thank you for your generosity, Mr. Yuri."

Yuri waved his hand dismissively, saying, "It's just a small gift. You're a registered baptist of the Brotherhood, representing our image, so you should at least get yourself a couple of decent outfits. Remember what I just said, don't fall down again."

Xilun touched the smooth fabric of the cuff, nodded slightly, and kept this favor in his heart.

When Yuri left the tailor shop, he didn't continue with the group. He waved at the intersection and left on the other side of the street, his figure quickly disappearing into the smog of the foggy city.

Siron walked alone along the wide road. He soon noticed that the atmosphere today seemed quite different from usual.

Along the way, many passersby couldn't help but linger on him, especially women in long skirts.

They either secretly peeked at her by covering half their face with a silk fan, or cast bold and admiring glances directly at her.

Xilun remained expressionless, subtly observing his brand-new outfit through the corner of his eye in the shop window.

As he walked, he thought to himself, "The clothes are indeed nice, but I feel like my hands are empty. If they were real gentlemen, they would be carrying a cane or a finely crafted long umbrella."

If a pocket watch could be added to hang on the vest, then this disguise would be even more perfect.

After thinking for a moment, Xilun shook his head again, forcibly suppressing these vain thoughts that could easily lead to addiction.

"Right now, the most important thing is to focus on resolving the breathing technique. If your life is in danger, no matter how beautifully you dress, you're nothing more than a gorgeous corpse."

He quickened his pace and headed straight for the Iron Cross Fighting Club.

With an aloof air that seemed to disdain even the rain, Xilun pushed open the door to the library on the first floor of the Iron Cross Fighting Club.

It was afternoon, and the library was filled with the unique aroma of old paper and fermented ink.

Inside, some students and extraordinary individuals were quietly flipping through books. Most of them had their heads down, immersed in the ocean of knowledge or secret arts, and did not notice Xilun's arrival.

Only one or two women sitting near the aisle glanced at Xilun as he passed by, their eyes following his straight, dark blue back until he turned past the bookshelf, before reluctantly looking away.

Xiren showed no reaction to this; his gaze swept across the intricate bookshelves like radar, quickly locking onto his target.

Between two towering shelves of classical literature, he spotted Daisy.

This proud young lady was sitting on the cold wooden floor with no regard for her image, her long legs arched high, a thick ancient book resting on her knees, her brows furrowed as she stared intently at the characters on it.

Xilun approached quietly, lifted his foot, which was clad in an Oxford shoe, and gently tapped the ground with the sole.

笃」

Daisy's train of thought was interrupted by the sound, and she frowned in annoyance.

She raised her head with a hint of annoyance, her gaze sweeping over the man standing in front of her like a knife.

However, when her gaze fell upon Xilen's perfectly tailored casual suit and his distinctly calm demeanor, her expression suddenly froze.

She subconsciously raised her hand and tucked a stray strand of hair that had fallen across her cheek behind her ear. Her bright eyes stared at Xilun for a long while, as if trying to confirm whether the person in front of her was really that taciturn guy who always wore shabby training clothes.

A few seconds later, she looked away as if to hide her unease, cleared her throat, and asked, "What's wrong? Did you need something?"

Xilun looked down at her, his tone still calm and unwavering: "Would it be convenient to go to the fourth floor?"

Daisy closed the ancient book on her lap and nimbly rose to her feet. She brushed the dust off her skirt, gave him a deep look, and said, "It seems you've made up your mind to go and examine that mysterious stone carving?"

Xilun nodded, his eyes revealing an unwavering determination.

Daisy didn't waste any words, shoving the book she was holding back onto the shelf: "Let's go then, don't waste any more time. This job isn't easy."

The two went to the front desk together. Xilun counted out several high-value bills from the crocodile-skin wallet, reluctantly but without hesitation paid for four hours of observation time.

With practiced ease, Celen led Daisy into the dimly lit, heavily guarded room on the fourth floor.

As soon as I entered, the lights came on.

Behind the glass, the dark blue stone carving, exuding a sense of vastness and divinity, suddenly appeared before my eyes.

On the massive stone slab, tiny human figures intertwined with a terrifying fish that seemed capable of swallowing the heavens and earth, surrounded by countless ancient characters that twisted like tadpoles.

Daisy stood before the glass, arms crossed, staring at the mysterious stone carving that exuded an invisible sense of oppression for a long time. She couldn't help but exclaim, "The size and amount of information contained in this stone carving are quite impressive. The way the characters are arranged is full of the wild style of the Fourth Age."

She shifted her gaze and turned to look at Xilun, her tone carrying a touch of professional seriousness: "With so much content, and involving advanced esoteric vocabulary, four hours is far from enough to fully deconstruct it."

Siren pulled out two chairs, pushed one towards Daisy, and sat down in the other. He took out a pen and a thick notebook, and without looking up, said, "Let's try again. As long as we're heading in the right direction, we'll eventually crack this bone."

Seeing this, Daisy stopped complaining. She pulled out a chair and sat down, saying, "Alright, since I agreed to be your assistant scholar."

She quickly got to work, unfolding an extremely thick etymological notebook from her handbag.

She took a deep breath, her gaze fixed on the first character in the upper right corner of the stone carving, and slowly began to decipher and translate it using her extensive knowledge of occultism.

At the same time, Xilun closed his eyes and recalled the rhythm of his blood and qi when he ate the black trout. With his extraordinary understanding as a first-order baptized, he tried to feel the breathing rhythm of the "Great Sea Whale Guiding Technique" on the stone carving and to understand the hidden power path behind those characters in his own way.

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